In recent years, Franky Rizardo’s name has become synonymous with “groove” worldwide. The Dutch-born DJ, producer, and label founder was born on June 1st, 1988, during the Second Summer of Love. Often credited as the birth year of trance, acid house, and the beginnings of the global electronic music scene, it is only fitting that the house music mogul was born during this time. While the Netherlands was commonly known for trance and techno heavyweights such as Gerd, Speedy J, and Tiesto, Franky chose to carve his own path. 

He began producing at age 12, inspired by Daft Punk’s album Homework (1977), the first record he ever purchased. With his favorite track being “Da Funk,” one can see how he pulled inspiration from the song’s iconic melody and housey kicks. “I found I was drawn to house music instantly. It’s all about the feeling for me…House music’s tempo strikes a perfect balance – it isn’t overly fast or too slow and is immensely danceable.” 

Rizardo was initially exposed to DJing at the secret, underage bar he frequented in high school. This is where he would eventually play his first gigs, spinning on Friday nights and 6-hour sets every Saturday. After beginning to gain local recognition, Franky earned his first actual residency at the world-renowned club Manhattan in Arnhem, catapulting his career and pushing his sound into the spotlight. This drew the attention of Dutch dance music superstar Hardwell (of Swedish House Mafia), leading them to collaborate on Franky’s first official release in 2006: Soca Funk EP. He continued to grow his international following, and in 2012, he released his first project on Defected Records titled La Chicambo EP. Defected is one of house music’s most widely recognized labels and a significant milestone for any artist in dance music.

Franky Rizardo would continue to cement his dominance in house music, headlining shows internationally and releasing on Saved Records (Nic Faniculli), Rejected Records (Joris Voorn), Strictly Rhythm (Mark Finkelstein and Gladys Pizzaro), and 8bit Records (Nick Curly & Gorge). Today, Franky’s sets are characterized by a relentless pulse and high-energy percussion that keeps dancers engaged from start to finish. He frequently utilizes acapellas to captivate his audience’s attention and mend various genres with the rhythms of house. 

Consistent rhythm and groove shape Franky’s unique sound, setting the foundation for the launch of his own brand titled FLOW in 2015. “FLOW is rooted in the concept of the ‘flow’ state of mind: being present, immersed, and forgetting the world around you. Our aim at FLOW is to get people into this state.” Describing FLOW, Franky says, “We aren’t fans of breakdowns that disrupt the rhythm. The groove is vital because you don’t want to get off it once you’re on!” After several years of success running weekly radio podcasts, he launched his label, Listen to Flow (LTF), in 2020. “For me it is really important when you listen to the radio that is has a flow, that it goes somewhere: it’s like a journey, so that’s why I called it FLOW. It’s house music – deep house, tech-house, even a bit of techno in there.”

Franky and the team at FLOW have done just this, pouring their unique sound, production, and energy into shows across the Netherlands. He has brought FLOW in dramatic fashion to the country’s most iconic venues, whether it’s 10 hours at Thuishaven, The Loft for Amsterdam Dance Event, or their first annual FLOW Freedom Festival held in Sonsbeek Park, Arnhem. FLOW has even traveled for events in Belgium and Curaçao and made its US Debut in New York in August.

“FLOW is rooted in the concept of the ‘flow’ state of mind: being present, immersed, and forgetting the world around you. Our aim at FLOW is to get people into this state.”

2023 has been a pivotal year in Franky Rizardo’s career. When asked about his most memorable moments, he responded with three performances: his first back-to-back with house legend Marco Carola at Music On, playing ANTS 10th-anniversary celebration in Ibiza, and being one of the first house artists to perform on Tomorrowland’s Main Stage. Despite his recent rise to global fame, he has not forgotten what inspired him from the beginning: “I was always drawn to the uplifting and positive vibes from the genre,” Franky says regarding house music. These traits are reflected in his character, as he can always be seen with a beaming smile, interacting with fans, and consistently maintaining authenticity in the spotlight. Franky Rizardo is one of house music’s most loved artists for these reasons, and we can’t wait to see what the future of his career has in store.

Sources: Defected, Deep House Amsterdam, Insomniac, MixMag, Resident Advisor, United ANTS